Archive for the ‘Labour Party’ Category
Catholic church wins against homosexuals adopting children UK
A Catholic adoption agency that refuses to place children with homosexual couples has won a key legal victory thanks to a loophole intended to protect gay charities.
By Matthew Moore
Published: 3:55PM GMT 17 Mar 2010
Catholic Care’s unexpected triumph paves the way for other groups forced to close or dissociate from the church to reopen as Catholic organisations.
Religious campaigners said that the judge’s ruling would galvanise growing resistance to Labour’s gay rights agenda, while secular activists warned of a “tidal wave” of similar legal challenges from Catholic groups.
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Catholic Care, which serves the dioceses of Leeds, Middlesbrough, and Hallam in South Yorkshire, launched the legal action saying it would have to give up its work finding homes for children if it had to comply with the 2007 Equality Act
The law banned adoption agencies from discriminating against homosexual prospective parents.
The adoption agency claimed that a clause of the legislation – Regulation 18 – should permit charities to continue to refuse gay couples if the stated aim of the charity was to provide services to people of a particular sexual orientation. The loophole was inserted to ensure that gay charities could not be sued for discrimination by heterosexual couples.
Catholic Care’s application to write an explicit reference to serving heterosexuals into its constitution was rejected by the Charities Commission, but today Mr Justice Briggs ordered the commission to review its decision. He accepted that the adoption agency could still provided a public benefit even if it did not consider homosexual parents.
The Rt Rev Arthur Roche, Bishop of Leeds, said that the judgement would “help in our determination to continue to provide this invaluable service to benefit children, families and communities”.
He added: “We look forward to producing evidence to the Charity Commission to support the position that we have consistently taken through this process: that without being able to use this exemption, children without families would be seriously disadvantaged.”
Catholic Care was the last of Britain’s eleven Catholic adoption agencies to resist the changes. Some charities like the Catholic Children’s Society, Westminster, and the Catholic Children’s Rescue Society in Salford decided to close their adoption services, while others agreed to accept the regulations and cut ties with the church.
Christian campaigners said that the judgement opened the door for other adoption agencies to reopen under a Catholic banner.
Andrea Williams from the Christian Legal Centre said: “This is a great result and a step in the right direction. It’s upsetting that the other adoption agencies have been forced to close, but this ruling will help them reopen if they so wish.
“The ruling supports Christian groups which want to operate freely and according to traditional values with regard to the nature of family.”
Philippa Gitlin, director of the Caritas Social Action Network, an umbrella group of Catholic charities, said that the trustees of charities that had adapted to comply with the legislation would “carefully consider” the ruling.
She said: “It is entirely a matter for specific consideration by the trustees of each charity what action, if any, they decide is feasible and appropriate in the light of today’s judgement. ”
Secular campaigners condemned the judge’s decision as “alarming” and “a major setback” for gay rights.
Terry Sanderson, president of the National Secular Society, said: “It is unfortunate that the court has enabled Catholic Care to exploit what was obviously an error in the drafting of the equality legislation. The loophole this created was never intended to be used this way.
“If the Charity Commission reverses its previous decision – as the court is asking it to – we can look forward to a tidal wave of similar challenges from bigoted Catholic organisations who are determined not to accord any rights to gay people at all.”
Interesting to see this development. It would seem the Church is likely to start to exert its influence further in light of unhappiness about the way Labour have conducted themselves to matters that are of great importance to the Church and wider community.
Jim Ferguson
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Highland Council cutbacks will take away front line services Scotland UK
The national percentage for those who are over 60 in scotland is 19%. That percentage increases to 34% for the Highlands and Islands. This percentage for the Highlands will increase by 10% every 5 years so its imperative that proper planning and a full strategic review is carried out in order to ensure adequate health care provision accross the Highlands and islands.
I am disapointed to see that the Highland Council who now have to make £12 million pounds of savings are cutting front line services in areas such as care workers who are a lifeline to many families across this region.
The SNP, Labour and LibDems have all had an opportunity at running the Highland Council but have failed to achieve the outcomes that the people need. Their in-fighting and petty politics have caused inaction and a failure to properly provide for the elderly community which is growing at an incredible rate.
There really does have to be some common sense introduced so that we don’t end up with a situation where we simply dont have the resources to cope.
Add to this the fact that we have had huge numbers of Eastern Europeans migrating to the Highlands who have not being paying contributions to the country but who quickly claim all their entitlements and we see a recipe for disaster due to not having the care provision and infrastructure to cope. The Labour Government were warned that this would happen but neither they nor the LibDems were prepared to listen and simply used political correctness as a weapon to silence their critics.
The SNP are faring no better and despite thousands of Scottish jobs being lost on a weekly basis they still adopt an insane policy of trying to bring huge numbers of immigrants to Scotland when there is simply no jobs for them.
An already overburdoned NHS is now creaking at the seams and the recent case of having 54 beds at Raigmore hospital blocked is tragic. Almost an entire floor is now taken up with people who have no other place to go because the Highland Council did not make the proper provision when they had the opportunity to do so. The bed blocking situation at Raigmore hospital has seen a 50% increase in just one year and may increase further next year unless a soloution can be found.
Local people who require hospital treatment will likely find that waiting lists will grow and with cutbacks in funding this will conspire to bring greater pressure to bear on local people.
Our elderly deserve better and after a lifetime of paying contributions into the NHS and their taxes they should not be worrying about healthcare provision at a time of life when they should be able to relax and take life at a slower pace.
I hope that people across the Highlands quickly wake up to the failures of those we trusted to lead and prepare this region for the future.
Immediate action must now be taken before it really is too late.
Jim Ferguson
Thought you should see (if you have not already seen), the areas that Highland Council are looking to achieve budget cuts and reduce level of service delivery at front end.
Looks to me as if everything possible is being done to protect the non-performing layers of management earning salaries in excess of £40,000 per annum.
One example detailed below demonstrates how management level salaries have got completely out of control:
“Schools General Reduce the number of Quality Improvement Officers by 2″ – Saving 0.140 = £140,000 simply staggering, given the average level of earnings across the Highlands of those employed outside of the Public Sector
The areas that appear to be under the knife are the very areas community leaders feel should be strengthened. particularly in relation to Education and Care of the Elderly!
Please click the link to download the Highland Council document concerned:
http://www.highland.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/FD04B6BA-B0E6-4CC5-B3D6-A10FCA5CE352/0/Item9HC4809.pdf
This is the document listing the potential cutbacks for the next two or three financial years within Highland Council and highlights the years of gross mis-management of public finances by successive political parties and elected councillors
Large sums of money have been wasted on flights of fancy, such as the Kessock Bridge fireworks display, with no thought as to how the mooey could have been better utilised for public benefit.
The huge external debt running into hundreds of £Millions, run up by successive administrations has never rung any alarm bells, whilst job protectionism has always been exhibited at the highest level of management – this simply cannot be allowed to continue.
Best wishes
Barrie Haycock
Chair Planning Watch UK
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Documentation extract (NOT Edited):
Highland Council Agenda
Item – 4 March 2010 Report
Budget Consultation
Report by Depute Chief Executive & Director of Finance
Summary
Highland Council, on 11 February, noted that budget consultation proposals would be considered by the Council in March. This report sets out the proposed approach to the
budget consultation exercise.
1. Introduction
1.1 The revenue budget for 2010/11 was agreed by the Council on 11 February. While that report set out a range of savings now agreed for 2011/12 and 2012/13, it
highlighted a considerable budget gap remained across those two years, estimated at £36m.
1.2 Recent comments by the Accounts Commission on the 2009 Audit Overview Report, sets in context the challenges faced by Council’s in the wake of the
economic downturn.
“…the scale of the budget challenge they face means councils need to take urgent
action. It is essential that they continue to develop and implement plans to cope
with the tough times ahead, including thinking radically about service design and
delivery.”
1.3 Given the difficult financial prospects for local government over the next few years, and the level of savings the Council is likely to be faced with, the Council agreed to
consult on budget proposals for 2011/12 and 2012/13, prior to the proposals being considered by the Council in the Autumn of 2010.
1.4 This report sets out the proposed approach to the budget consultation exercise.
1.5 This report is produced in support of the Council’s corporate governance process, which in turn is designed to support/augment the Council’s overall/corporate
delivery of all of its obligations in terms of the Single Outcome Agreement.
2. Purpose of Consultation
2.1 The purpose of the budget consultation exercise will be to:-
? Seeks views from the public and other stakeholders, on a range of specific budget proposals the Council may be asked to consider in Autumn 2010.
? Seek views on the more strategic matters the Council is considering in relation to the budget, for example the education provision/school estate review and the
waste collection strategy.
? Ask the consultees for any areas where they feel budget savings could or should be made.
? Raise awareness of the financial challenges facing the Council and actions that may be necessary to address that.
3. Format of Consultation
3.1 A consultation document will be produced to support the exercise. This document will set out:-
? The financial context facing the Council, including the level of savings the Council thinks will have to be made over the next two years.
? Information on what the Council currently spends its budget on.
? The types of strategic review the Council is conducting or considering in major service areas e.g.
? Corporate Improvement Programme to improve efficiency and effectiveness (including procurement, asset management and business support along with other projects).
? Review of management costs.
? Reduction in travel and subsistence costs.
? Business case review for 5 new care homes.
? Review of education provision/school estate.
? Review of waste collection strategy.
? A range of specific saving proposals the Council may be asked to consider in Autumn 2010.
? Any other relevant supporting information.
? The format of response sought, including questions to be asked of consultees.
3.2 As a working draft, the enclosed annex 1 sets out a list of saving proposals that may feature in the consultation document. This list represents those savings identified by Services as part of the 2010/11 budget exercise, over and above those agreed by the Council to date. Some further refinement to proposals, and incorporate of further information where appropriate, will take place before finalised.
3.3 The consultation document will be hosted on the Council website, with consideration given to availability/distribution through other mediums where appropriate. It is not intended to print mass copies of the document, or utilise newspaper advertising or supplements, to minimise the costs of the consultation.
3.4 Consultees will be asked to provide comments via email, or in writing. Consideration will be given to a dedicated email address for responses. Ward
Forum meetings will also be used to discuss the consultation and receive feedback.
3.5 The Council has agreed that a Citizen Panel be established to support consultation on a range of matters, including the budget. Given the time necessary to recruit
and establish the panel, it will not be possible to use the panel for this initial budget consultation. It is expected that once up and running, the panel will be used for
future budget consultations.
4. Questions to be asked
4.1 While the Council could use a ‘blank sheet’ approach, i.e. leave the consultees to determine the format and content of their response, there are benefits in providing
a structure to the expected response, to aid analysis and collation.
4.2 A range of questions could be considered, to provide a structure to the response, while still leaving the consultee as much freedom as possible to give their views.
The questions could also provide a useful structure for discussion at Ward Forum meetings.
4.3 Some example questions that could be included are set out below.
(1) Are there any other areas of the Council, not reflected in the enclosed proposals, where you feel the Council could or should make savings? If so please provide details.
(2) Are there any comments you wish to make about the strategic reviews the Council is conducting.
4.4 The final structure of the document and questions will be prepared over the coming weeks, prior to formal launch of the consultation.
5. Next Steps and Timetable
5.1 Following the Council meeting, the consultation document will be prepared and incorporated on the Council website. The target date for this task is mid to end March.
5.2 The Council will then arrange for a press release, media coverage, posters in Service Points, etc as a means of promoting the consultation.
5.3 The first Ward Forum to be asked for views on the consultation will be the North West and Central Sutherland Ward Forum on 27th March.
5.4 Discussion at further Ward Forum meetings during April and May will also take place, with the consultation exercise estimated to conclude June 2010.
Recommendation
Members are asked to consider this report and agree the budget consultation approach and timetable.
Signature:
Designation: Depute Chief Executive & Director of Finance
Date: 24 February 2010
Ref:
Background Papers
Author: Brian Porter, Finance Manager
Author’s Telephone No.: 01463 702424
Savings Proposals for Consultation 2011/12 – 2012/13 Annex 1
Education, Culture & Sport
Ref. Activity Heading Savings Proposal
Indicative Savings £m
1 & 3 Devolved budgets – schools Review Secondary timetabling methods, curriculum delivery methods and review teacher entitlement formulae 1.791
8 Schools General Review delivery of music tuition and region-wide music support 0.559
9 Schools General Reduce the number of Quality Improvement Officers by 2 – 0.140
12 Schools General Reduction in teaching absence cover funding 0.047
13 Schools General Discontinue the peripatetic janitorial function 0.287
14 Schools General Clothing Grant Allowance – Reduce level of award and change to “voucher” system 0.080
19 Additional Support Needs 20% reduction across Psychological Services, a 5% reduction across other specialist ASL budgets held centrally, at area level and in schools, including some reorganisation of management and administrative structures. 1.000
20 School Residences Income generation opportunities in School Residences 0.060
22 Grants to Voluntary Organisations
Further review of support for Voluntary Organisations 0.312
23 Youth Work Reduction in Youth Work 0.573
24 Community Learning Further reduction in Adult Education 0.050
25 Community Facilities,
Inverness and Nairn
Reduce number of Community Centres in Inverness 0.133
26 Archives Focus provision on new Highland Archive Centre 0.183
27 Culture Removal of the Out of Eden drama provision including the Highland wide Higher Drama course 0.195
29 Museums Reduce museum provision by two thirds through closures or alternative provision 0.400
30 Highland Culture Fund Removal of Highland Culture Fund and Lochaber Events budget 0.509
31 Integrated Library Service Reduction in library provision, including ceasing the Bookstart service 0.394
32 Integrated Library Service Library Support Unit – Reduce logistical support for libraries 0.100
33 Integrated Library Service Cease all development of the Am Baile gaelic heritage web resources, and seek alternative resources 0.172
34 Leisure, recreation and sports development
Reduce number of swimming pools 0.380
35 Sports Development and Play
Reduce support for sports development and play through review of Council and Partner provision 0.138
36 Floral Hall, Inverness Floral Hall – Close or find a social enterprise model to continue the operation 0.115
Total 7.618
ECS
Savings Proposals for Consultation 2011/12 – 2012/13 Annex 1
JCCYP
Ref. Activity Heading Savings Proposal
Indicative Savings £m
9 Review of Teacher input to nurseries
Reduce in line with service rationalisation 0.100
11 Workforce Qualification Standard
Reduction in expenditure to support early years staff qualification standard, as this will largely have been met. 0.050
Total 0.150
JCCYP
Savings Proposals for Consultation 2011/12 – 2012/13 Annex 1
Social Work
Ref. Activity Heading Savings Proposal
Indicative Savings £m
15 Establish Community Health & Social Care Partnerships with NHS Highland
Move towards integrated management of health and care 0.250
16 Community Care Learning
Disability Support Work provision
Review in – house support services for learning disabilities at Cradlehall, Inverness 0.035
18 Learning Disability Day Care Review of day care facility at Beachview, Brora. 0.069
19 Learning Disability Day Care Review learning disability day care service provision at Tigh na Drochaidh 0.020
20 Community Care Establishments
Review Raasay Day Centre 0.014
22 Care at Home Consider tender for all home care (public sector process involving comparator – phased approach) 1.000
23 Orchard Cease providing residential care at Orchard and downsize provision. Restrict the service to short breaks. 0.150
24 Top slice of fostering & adoption budget
Top slice of fostering & adoption budget 0.100
28 Children & Families Overnight provision in Children’s Units 0.100
31 Care Homes Review of all LA care home provision, to ensure best value tbc
35 Day Care Review Older People’s Day Care at Tigh na Drochaid, Portree 0.065
36 Childrens Services Review Staffin respite unit 0.130
Total 1.933
SW
Savings Proposals for Consultation 2011/12 – 2012/13 Annex 1
TECS
Ref. Activity Heading Savings Proposal
Indicative Savings £m
16 Service Review of overall staffing structure 0.075
18 Service Review all income streams. 0.300
20 Roads & Community Works Review standards of cyclic road maintenance. 0.400
21 Roads & Community Works Review standards of grounds maintenance. 0.500
22 Roads & Community Works Use contractors to replace seasonal staff employed on grounds maintenance. 0.050
23 Roads & Community Works Bught Nursery – examine option to procure plant material from external providers. 0.100
24 Roads & Community Works Review standards of street cleaning. 0.500
25 Roads & Community Works Review provision (numbers) of public toilets. 0.200
26 Roads & Community Works Review Pest Control function 0.095
27 Roads & Community Works Remove budget for unadopted roads. 0.050
28 Roads & Community Works
Business Support
Review the burial administration function for Inverness,
Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey Area. 0.020
32 Waste Management Review level of grant to Social Enterprise Groups. 0.050
33 Transport & Infrastructure Review level of service for street lighting. 0.500
34 Transport & Infrastructure Replace external contractors with internal staff (internal transfer from Roads and Community Works to Street Lighting). 0.050
35 Transport & Infrastructure Review levels of subsidies for public transport. 0.500
36 Transport & Infrastructure Review level of grants to Community Transport Schemes 0.050
37 Transport & Infrastructure Review long term arrangements for the Corran Ferry. 0.150
38 Transport & Infrastructure Review Materials Testing Laboratory. 0.050
39 Transport & Infrastructure Review airstrips. 0.026
40A Environmental Health Review staffing level for Environmental Health. 0.060
40B Trading Standards Review staffing level for Trading Standards. 0.060
42 Business Support Review provision of vehicle workshops including options for amalgamation. 0.050
43 Business Support Review provision of materials stores including options for external provision. 0.075
44 Business Support Review business processes. 0.040
TECS
Ref. Activity Heading Savings Proposal
Indicative Savings £m
45 Roads & Community Works Review temporary mortuary facilities at Glen Nevis, Fort William. 0.005
Total 3.956
TECS
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LibDems and other parties defeat Conservative motion to help Highland people – Scotland
I was totally shocked to hear that a Conservative motion was defeated by the LibDems and other parties to a motion put forward by Conservative MSP Mary Scanlon to use badly needed funds to assist local people in the Highlands and Islands.
The rate of registrations for Highlands and Islands NHS is a mere 50.7% which is a shockingly low rate of registrations and this money could have been put to good use for local people across the area.
If this is the sheer contempt that the SNP, Labour and LibDems have for the Highlands then I would urge people to remember this betrayal of their health interests at the coming General Election.
Jim Ferguson
Conservative move to treat 27,000 new dental patients and scrap SNP dental propaganda is defeated
A Conservative motion aimed at annulling the £2.4m annual cost of allowing patients to remain registered with a dentist forever, regardless of whether they have ever been treated, has been rejected by other parties at Health Committee.
£2.4m would be enough to fund at least 20 more dentists, which means an extra 27,000 patients could have been treated
Mary Scanlon MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health & Wellbeing, says:
“At a cost of two and half million pounds every year, the SNP Government wants to allow the names of patients to remain registered with a dentist for ever – even if that patient hasn’t turned up for years or hasn’t turned up at all. By contrast, if my annulment had been accepted this morning, at least 20 new dentists could have been funded and 27,000 extra patients treated.
“This £2.4 million a year is there just to make the SNP Government look better. It allows the SNP to trumpet that more and more patients are being registered with dentists – but it doesn’t mean any more patients are being treated by dentists.
“NHS dentists in Scotland warn that this change will undermine the importance of regular check ups, and most alarmingly of all, they warn this change will increase the chances of serious conditions such as mouth cancer going undetected.
“I am astonished that the other opposition parties have also voted to put SNP propaganda ahead of patient care. We need to scrap this pointless and costly measure as soon as we can.”
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Fuel prices set to rocket – Highland business at serious risk Scotland UK
Business and hard pressed people across the Highlands face even greater hardship due to fuel prices that are set to soar. Some estimates suggest that the more rural parts of scotland will face prices of around £1.30 per litre.
This is totally unacceptable and as if we wern’t facing enough problems this latest bombshell may see more and more people struggling to cope. How will penshioners manage to heat their homes ? The fact that the vast majority of the cost is tax that goes straight into the Labour Governments pockets is scandalous when they can see the pressure that people are already under thanks to Labours recession.
And what of the LibDem MP Danny Alexander. What will he do ? Not much. Not much a minority party MP like him can do anyway.
This general election will give the people of the Highlands an opportunity to elect an MP who will be able to deliver.
If the country is fortunate enough to elect a Conservative Government then I as the MP for this region will be in a far stronger position to bring real help and support to the people of the Highlands of Scotland instead of the empty weak words of the Liberals who can only whine and wring their hands in helplessness.
Jim Ferguson
Petrol Price Woe For Drivers As Costs Soar
4:28pm UK, Tuesday March 16, 2010
James Jordan, Sky News Online
Petrol prices could reach an eye-watering 120p per litre later this year, the AA is warning.
The organisation is claiming that unleaded fuel could even top the price, equivalent to £5.41 a gallon, and Alistair Darling is being urged to delay the introduction of a planned 3p increase in petrol duty due to come in on April 1.
AA president Edmund King said: “The UK is barely out of recession, yet petrol prices threaten to rise to record prices seen during the boom of 2008 – shortly before the collapse into recession.
“If families, drivers on fixed incomes and those on low pay were unable to cope with record prices then, they are even less likely now.”
AA research found an average family with two cars is paying £52 a month more to fill up now than a year ago.
Motorists are being legally mugged at the forecourt by petrol companies.
Lindsay Hoyle, Labour MP on the Commons business select committee
The average petrol price in the UK is 115.9p for a litre of unleaded and 116.6p for a litre of diesel.
Even if the 3p increase is withdrawn, the price paid by drivers could soon hit 120p a litre – £5.41 a gallon – according to the organisation.
This would overtake the previous high of 119.7p of July 2008.
The AA said the price increases were caused by the rise in the price of wholesale gasoline since the end of January.
Lindsay Hoyle, the senior Labour MP on the Commons business select committee, said it was “a complete disgrace”.
He told the Daily Telegraph: “Yes, crude oil has gone up this year, but nothing like the rise in petrol prices. Motorists are being legally mugged at the forecourt by petrol companies.”
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Unite Union has an unhealthy grip of Labour
Charlie Whelan’s new militant tendency
Tuesday, March 16 2010
Michael Gove has spoken about “Charlie Whelan’s New Militant Tendency” in a speech setting out how dependent the Labour Party is on Unite – Britain’s biggest trade union.
His speech marked the launch of a new document that shines a light on how Unite has taken advantage of Labour’s near bankruptcy and the departure of Tony Blair to gain an unprecedented grip on the party.
Under the political direction of Charlie Whelan, Unite is using its financial and organisation muscle to drive government policy and build a Labour Party very different to the one that appealed to Middle England and won three general elections. Instead, with Gordon Brown as leader, there has been a reversal of much-needed public service reforms, a return to industrial militancy and a regression into atavistic class war rhetoric.
“There can be few more powerful forces of conservatism opposed to the flexibility, freedom and choice of the post-bureaucratic age than the Whelanist Tendency now in control of the Labour party”, Gove said.
“Labour’s re-unionisation has put them in bed with the past at a time when it is crucial that this country wakes up to the future.”
The document sets out in detail the way in which, in the three years since Gordon Brown became Prime Minister, Unite has spent more than £11 million of its members’ money on buying influence within the Labour Party.
This extends from placing a key union operative inside 10 Downing Street to taking effective control of many cash-strapped constituency Labour parties and installing Unite activists and officials as prospective Parliamentary candidates.
Gove said that “the last thing we need is a political system where genuine participation in democracy is out-muscled by union power”.
“This election will decide the future of this country and Labour represents a move backwards, not forwards”, he added.
Read Michael Gove’s speech in full
You can read our dossier on “Charlie Whelan’s New Militant Tendency” in the document reader below, or alternatively click here to download a copy in PDF format.
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For the sake of the British people we must get rid of this Labour Government UK
The biggest risk for Britain is five more years of Gordon Brown
Wednesday, March 10 2010
William Hague, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, has argued that the biggest risk for Britain is five more years of Gordon Brown.
Speaking to the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies, he said that ”our ability to undertake economic modernisation will be critical to Britain’s future influence”.
“When capital, labour and technology are increasingly mobile we cannot stand still”, he said. “That is why James Dyson’s report about how we can give more weight to science and technology in our economy is so welcome”.
“That is why our proposals on business taxation are oriented towards attracting and maintaining investment, why our programme of education reform explicitly draws from best practice across the globe, from Alberta to Sweden to Singapore, to ensure we make the most of every young person’s talent in the future.”
Hague warned that the modernisation our economy needs is not guaranteed. “If our opponents’ mistaken arguments and mistaken principles prevailed Britain will move backwards towards a ’70s style model, with a bigger say for the trade unions who want to impose rigidity and unaffordable regulation across the public and private sector. The bridge will be drawn up against innovation and investment.”
He also warned that Labour is no longer “the outward-looking thinking of the late 1990s”, but that it’s taking “an explicitly old-fashioned Left approach” – particularly in selecting candidates who are ”hardened union activists with a track record in resisting modernisation”.
Hague said Gordon Brown was right to refer to the economy being “at a crossroads” in a speech he gave today. “We could continue with five more years of his debt, waste and taxes. We know where that would lead – just yesterday an international credit rating agency warned that Labour’s plans would result in the loss of our credit rating. ”
“That would be a catastrophe for our economy and for our reputation around the world”, he said.
“So the biggest risk for Britain is five more years of Gordon Brown. The alternative is to change direction, deal with our debts more quickly and restore confidence in our economy. A new Conservative Government will be a chance to send the signal far and wide that Britain is once again open for business.”
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Brave British soldier saves lives of comrades
Soldier Lobs Taliban Grenade Back At Enemy
9:00am UK, Tuesday March 09, 2010
Damien Pearse, Sky News Online
A British soldier has saved his comrades by scooping up a live Taliban grenade and throwing it straight back at the enemy moments before it exploded.
Rifleman James McKie suffered cuts to his face after the grenade exploded
The device hit Rifleman James McKie’s platoon commander and landed at his feet during a battle in the Sangin area of Helmand Province in Afghanistan.
And as the enemy continued to pound his position from three directions the young soldier lobbed the grenade as far as he could.
“I remember thinking that if I didn’t pull this off, it was going to hurt,” he said. “But at that stage I was pretty much committed.”
Split seconds after the grenade left his hand it exploded in mid-air, firing fragments into Rifleman McKie’s face and arm.
His commander Captain Graeme Kerr suffered leg injuries and is now recovering at Selly Oak Hospital in the UK.
I remember thinking that if I didn’t pull this off, it was going to hurt. But at that stage I was pretty much committed.
Rifleman James McKie
Rifleman McKie was posted on the roof of a building when he saw the grenade. Another soldier, also on the roof, escaped unhurt.
Rifleman McKie, from Recce Platoon, 3rd Battalion The Rifles, and originally from New Zealand, described the drama.
“I heard what sounded like a mini flare come from our right where I knew there were none of our guys, so I thought this was really unusual.
“We were in a high position on a compound roof.
“There was no way you could throw yourself off and not get injured, so I made a decision to pick up the grenade and throw it off the roof.”
He went on: “My platoon has taken a lot of casualties. I really didn’t want to see anyone else get hurt.”
Rifleman McKie threw smoke to cover their withdrawal, allowing them to reach the safety of another compound.
Captain Kerr was immediately evacuated by helicopter, but Rifleman McKie was able to continue in his duties until the following day.
“I don’t feel particularly brave,” he said.
“I’m not expecting anything from my comrades … I don’t want any thanks from them. I just don’t want them to get hurt.”
Outstanding bravery which is typical of our gallant fighting forces. What a great pity this Labour Government doesnt think so. Both Labour and the sneaky LibDems have an inheritant loathing of all things patriotic.
I hope when he threw the grenade back it hit its intended targets.
Jim Ferguson
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Labour protecting Bulger killer – time to reveal his identity -UK-
I am really sick and tired of reading about the rights of despicable monsters like Jon Venables who are allowed to hide behind a wall of secrecy created by this Labour Government to protect such vile people. Labour have totally failed to protect members of the public and their shielding of this monster only prove how out of touch with public opinion they are. Their liberal soft touch justice that sees children murdered and then the killers treated to holidays and the best of treatment is sickening.
Its quite clear that they treated the two Bulger killers with kid gloves all these years no doubt with the sympathy of the LibDems who help make a mockery of British justice and who pander to evil people and gloat about their ” Rights ” but its time that the ” Rights ” of ordinary people were put first.
With rights comes responsibilities !
Jim Ferguson
Child porn claims over Bulger killer
venables recalled over suspicions, report alleges
Published: 08/03/2010
ANGRY: Denise Fergus, the mother of James Bulger
James Bulger killer Jon Venables was recalled to prison on suspicion of child pornography offences, using drugs and fears he had revealed his new identity, it was alleged yesterday.
The claims about the 27-year-old convicted murderer, made in a Sunday newspaper, came after Justice Secretary Jack Straw refused to disclose the reasons for last week’s recall, saying only they related to “extremely serious allegations”.
Senior politicians yesterday lined up to support the government’s stance. The decision was backed by David Blunkett, who as then home secretary informed MPs of the Parole Board’s decision that Venables should be released in 2001.
Writing in a Sunday newspaper, he said: “The separation between judges and politicians is critical. The idea that we should abandon it in this case is understandable coming from James’ immediate family. Even with a general election pending, the Government cannot and must not bend on this – not least because if Venables has committed a further crime, then that victim and their family deserve their day in court.”
Leader of the Commons Harriet Harman declined to comment on the reason why Venables was returned to custody. She said: “If there is a question of an offence having been committed then it needs to be properly investigated and anybody who has committed an offence needs to be brought to trial.
“We don’t want anything to happen whereby they can’t be brought to a trial because it is said they can’t get a fair trial because all the media reporting has been prejudiced.”
James’s mother Denise Fergus, 42, said yesterday Venables should lose his anonymity if he was charged with a new offence.
Her spokesman, Chris Johnson, said: “If after that, depending on the outcome of the court case, the powers that be decide that he should have some new identity yet again, then we’ll deal with that when we come to it.
“But she can’t understand why he doesn’t appear in a dock under his own name, if that’s going to be where he ends up.
“She’s appalled. She doesn’t think that he should be at liberty anyway. He should really have served a sentence of something in the order of 15 years and should be coming up for parole now. In her mind, if there has been an offence committed, it means that that could have been avoided.”
Mrs Fergus has demanded to know why Venables was put back in jail, and is meeting Mr Straw to discuss the matter.
The killer and his accomplice Robert Thompson were aged 10 when they battered two-year-old James to death in Liverpool 17 years ago.
They were both released on lifelong licence in 2001 with new identities, requiring them to obey strict conditions such as not contacting each other or returning to the city where James was killed.
Venables reportedly faces a looming return to court over the “extremely serious” allegations, causing a potential security nightmare for the authorities trying to preserve his lifelong anonymity order.
Justifying his decision not to disclose details of Venables’ recall, Mr Straw said: “I said on Wednesday that I was unable to give further details of the reasons for Jon Venables’ return to custody, because it was not in the public interest to do so.
“That view was shared by the police and the director of public prosecutions. We all feared that a premature disclosure of information would undermine the integrity of the criminal justice process, including the investigation and potential prosecution of individual(s).”
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Labours tax bombshell for local pubs UK
Community pubs facing tax bombshell
Sunday, March 7 2010
Shadow Housing Minister Grant Shapps has warned of a ‘tax bombshell’ faced by community pubs this April.
New research by the Conservatives reveals that Gordon Brown’s tax inspectors are hiking up business rates for local pubs across country. Friendly community pubs with darts and pool tables face the biggest threat.
This comes as figures show that a net 3,690 local pubs have closed under Labour, according to official records held by tax inspectors.
“Gordon Brown has pushed local community pubs to the wall”, Shapps said, pointing out that at the same time Labour has ignored “the binge-drinking dens that have wrecked our town centres and fuelled violent crime”.
The three key elements of the tax bombshell are:
- New tax hikes on local pubs: New analysis of Government figures slipped out before Christmas has revealed that pubs, pub restaurants, wine bars, wineries and coaching inns face above-inflation hikes in their Rateable Values – and thus their tax bills. This will be top of Brown’s above-inflation rises in alcohol duty imposed in the Budget.
- Stealth tax on pub sports: According to the tax inspectors’ guidance, features such as a pool room, skittles alley, bowling green, children’s play area and darts have been targeted. The clipboard-wielding inspectors have secretly toured pubs, recording “pool, darts or football teams playing in leagues”. Pubs showing sport will not escape, as Sky Sports will be taxed extra, Ministers have admitted.
- Stealth tax on nice pubs: The tax manuals tell the state snoopers to take photographs inside and outside the pub, and record “Does the pub appear friendly and popular?”. Factors being logged include good beer cellars/stores (thus taxing real ale), “rare and unspoilt pubs”, and beer gardens (taxing those which have ducked the smoking ban).
“Not content with a council tax revaluation to tax people’s home improvements and scenic views, Gordon Brown also wants to hammer the nice local pub with higher local taxes”, Shapps said. “Only Conservatives will stand up for the local community pub”.
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Labours betrayal of our armed forces – Military chiefs accuse Brown
The truth of Brown’s attempt to cover up the amount of defence spending is starting to come out. The armed forces are now quite clear on the position that Brown’s Labour Government cannot be trusted. Despite huge professionalism and bravery on the part of our armed services the armed forces cannot depend on this Government. Every military person needs to wake up fast to what Brown and his cabal of misfits have done and how Labour has turned its back on them and our nation.
Labours disrespect for the armed services is staggering and their appalling record and betrayal of our military personel cannot go unpunished. I would urge every soldier, sailor, and air force member of the armed services to assist the rest of the people in this country to throw this dredful Labour Government out of power as soon as the General Election takes place. Only then can we begin to properly fund and support not only our fighting men and woman but ensure we get the support that their families deserve as well.
Jim Ferguson
This graph (hat tip to Burning our Money) gets closest to the truth about Labour’s record on defence spending (click on the image to enlarge it):
For the reasons pointed out by BoM, because defence costs have risen faster than inflation the second graph is most relevant. At a time of two wars Labour has cut the buying power of our armed forces.
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Yesterday Gordon Brown told the Iraq inquiry that he gave the military all they needed. Liam Fox hit back, accusing the Prime Minister of being “evasive” and pointing to contradictory statements issued by others.
Today, Mr Brown gets both barrels from retired military chiefs in The Times and Telegraph.
“He’s dissembling, he’s being disingenuous. It’s just not the case that the Ministry of Defence was given everything it needed. There may have been a 1.5 per cent increase in the defence budget but the MoD was starved of funds.” – Admiral Lord Boyce, the Chief of the Defence Staff up to the start of the invasion of Iraq in 2003, quoted in The Times
“To say Gordon Brown has given the military all they asked for is simply not true. He cannot get away with saying I gave them everything they asked for, that is simply disingenuous.” – Lord Guthrie in The Telegraph
“The real truth is the Armed Forces are underfunded.” – Major General Patrick Cordingley, quoted in The Telegraph
Speaking on Radio 4 at 8.15am this morning, General Sir Richard Dannatt backed his former colleagues in the armed forces. The whole of the armed forces had been robbed to provide the basics for combat operations, he told listeners.
In its leader column The Telegraph makes the obvious conclusion:
“What they do know is that there are soldiers who would not have been killed had they been better equipped and whether that was the Treasury’s fault or the MoD’s is neither here nor there. The Government must be held to account; and Mr Brown has been at its heart for 13 years.”
Tim Montgomerie
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